Trucker Buddy honors award recipients for 2012 at MATS

June Trucker Buddy of the Month Todd Fisher, center, receives his plaque from K.C. Brau, president of the Trucker Buddy board of directors, left, and Trucker Buddy Executive Director Randy Schwartzenburg. (The Trucker: CLIFF ABBOTT)

The Trucker News Services

3/25/2013

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Twelve “Trucker Buddy of the Month” recipients were honored at a news conference March 22 as part of the Mid-America Trucking Show.

Several were present to talk about “their” kids and what it means to participate in the program.

Executive Director Randy Schwartzenburg opened the assembly by announcing that the Trucker Buddy program is entering its 22nd year and now has over 2,100 drivers and 2,200 teachers participating.

The program serves over 60,000 school children, he said.

Schwartzenburg also touted the organization’s “Trucking Mentor” program, which provides safe-driving instruction to high school students to prepare them to share the road with the commercial vehicles they will encounter.

K.C. Brau, Trucker Buddy president, proudly handed out the plaques as Schwartzenburg announced each monthly winner and highlighted their accomplishments.

Four of the recipients were present to receive their awards.

Another two were one the way when delayed by truck breakdowns, according to Schwartzenburg.

June awardee Todd Fisher, also a Trucker Buddy “Ambassador,” talked about his second grade class of students at Aurora Elementary School in Aurora, Neb.

He discussed how he worked with teacher Pam Grady to keep the students informed of his whereabouts and bring them information about the geographic areas he visits. Fisher drives for Mast Trucking.

Mike Cunningham of Walmart Transportation was the November recipient. He shares a special relationship with the teacher from Hayes Grade Center in Ada, Okla., since she happens to be his wife, Sharon.

December recipient Bruce Wehner spoke last, telling of how he brought samples of cotton plants to first and second grade students of teacher Rose Wenzel at the Assumption BVM Catholic School in Pulaski, Wis.

“Being close to Green Bay,” he said, “I knew they’d never seen cotton growing, so I just brought them a few plants.”